WVU’s late-season surge continues
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Kevin Pittsnogle hasn’t been counted on for scoring his entire career, but lately he’s been solid when West Virginia needed him. The senior had 14 points and 11 different West Virginia players scored in a 76-58 win over Rutgers on Saturday.
Pittsnogle is scoring 10 points per game this season but has averaged 17 over his last seven games. West Virginia (18-8, 8-7) is 6-1 over that stretch and trying to earn an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since 1998.
“There isn’t a better time for us to be playing as well as we are now,” Pittsnogle said. “I’m playing well, we’re playing well and we’re having fun.”
Pat Beilein scored 12 points and Tyrone Sally and Joe Herber each added 11 for West Virginia. Sally became the 41st player in school history with 1,000 points.
Quincy Douby and Ricky Shields led Rutgers with 18 and 14 points, respectively.
In the first half, West Virginia made 15-of-26 field goals and seven of 11 3-pointers. The 3-point barrage helped WVU take a 28-18 lead with 7:12 left in the first half.
“We shot really well in the first half,” said WVU coach John Beilein. “In the second half, we did just enough.”
The Scarlet Knights (9-16, 2-12) got no closer than six points the rest of the way in losing for the ninth time in 11 games. Rutgers has lost eight straight on the road.
After Pat Beilein hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Sally gave West Virginia its largest lead, 69-48, with 4:25 left.
“West Virginia shot the ball extremely well, and it wasn’t just one person,” Rutgers coach Gary Waters said. “They can all shoot when they get looks.
“I said after they went 10-0 that if they got to eight league wins, the NCAA Committee would have to consider them.”
No Big East team that finished with an even record in conference play in the regular season has ever reached the NCAA tournament, so West Virginia likely needs to win at Seton Hall on March 5 and perhaps once in the Big East tournament.